Mutant protease biosensors with enhanced detection characteristics

ABSTRACT

A polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker linking the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase is modified relative to a parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase. The linker contains a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule. Alternatively, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/105,648, filed May 11, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/333,706, filed May 11, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/470,845, filed Apr. 1, 2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The sequence listing is filed with the application in electronic format only and is incorporated herein by reference. The sequence listing text file “ASFILED_Sequence_US02.txt” was created on May 11, 2011, and is 152,798 bytes in size.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of biochemical assays and reagents. More specifically, this invention relates to modified luciferases and methods for their use.

BACKGROUND

Luciferases are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of a substrate (e.g., luciferin or coelenterazine) with the concomitant release of photons of light. Luciferases have been isolated from numerous species, including Coleopteran arthropods and many sea creatures as well as bacteria. Because it is easily detectable and its activity can be quantified with high precision, luciferases have been widely used to study gene expression and protein localization. Unlike green fluorescent protein (GFP), which requires up to 30 minutes to form its chromophore, the products of luciferases can be detected immediately upon completion of synthesis of the polypeptide chain (if substrate and oxygen are also present). In addition, no post-translational modifications are required for enzymatic activity, and the enzyme contains no prosthetic groups, bound cofactors, or disulfide bonds. Luciferases are useful reporters in numerous species and in a wide variety of cells.

Luciferases possess additional features that render them particularly useful as reporter molecules for biosensing, i.e., molecules which reveal molecular properties of a system. Most catalytic reactions generate less than the energy of hydrolysis for two molecules of ATP, or about 70 kJ/mole. However, the luminescence elicited by luciferases has much higher energy content. For instance, the reaction catalyzed by firefly luciferase (560 nm) emits 214 kJ/mole of energy. Furthermore, luciferases are also highly efficient at converting chemical energy into photons, i.e., they have high quantum yields. Luciferases are thus extremely efficient for generating detectable signals.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker. The linker links the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase is modified relative to a parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase. The linker comprises a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule. Alternatively, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has a substitution of at least one amino acid at positions 5, 17, 21, 23, 26, 39, 44, 51, 81, 101, 103, 110, 114, 115, 119, 123, 126, 128, 133, 137, 186, 191, 192, 193, 196, 208, 211, 214, 226, 228, 230, 233, 264, 273, 275, 286, 287, 294, 295, 297, 302, 303, 304, 306, 308, 309, 313, 324, 329, 331, 343, 348, 353, 364, 374, 385, 389, 409, 420, 426, 427, 428, 431, 449, 456, 460, 461, 465, 466, 468, 471, 473, 482, 484, 485, 489, 493, 494, 497, 503, 507, 509, 510, 513, 516, 517, 521, 522, 523, 526, 530, 533, 536, 537, 542, or 543 corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2. The linker links the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase. The linker has a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule. Alternatively, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase may also have increased luminescence or increased stability relative to an unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase.

In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in a sample, comprising contacting the sample with a polynucleotide encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for the target molecule and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and detecting luminescence in the sample.

In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in a cell, comprising contacting a cell with a polynucleotide encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for the target molecule and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and detecting luminescence in the cell.

In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in an animal, comprising contacting an animal with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for the target molecule and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and detecting luminescence in the animal.

In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in a sample, comprising immobilizing a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for the target molecule to a solid support, adding a sample containing the target molecule to the immobilized biosensor, adding a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase, and detecting luminescence.

In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method to detect apoptosis in a sample, comprising contacting the sample with a polynucleotide encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for a molecule involved in apoptosis and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and detecting luminescence in the sample.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the position of the amino acid substitutions, I471T, S503G, T5071, and S193P in the corresponding starting sequence TL-CP358-DEVD:DD.

FIGS. 2A-B show the normalized RLU for the variant 01:A-05 and the corresponding starting sequence TL-CP358-DEVD:DD after treatment with TNF-α-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) treatment (FIG. 2A) and the fold-induction (response) after 2 and 10 hrs (FIG. 2B).

FIGS. 3A-B show the normalized RLU for the variants FC7:24, FC7:43, and FC7:49, compared to corresponding starting sequence TL-CP358-DEVD:DD after treatment with TRAIL (FIG. 3A) and the fold-induction (response) after 2 and 10 hrs (FIG. 3B).

FIG. 4 shows the effect of the linker on the performance of the Caspase-3/7 BioSensor (CBS).

FIG. 5 shows the kinetic profile of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time at 37° C. using TL-CP233-Caspase 8 and TL-CP358-Caspase 8 Biosensors.

FIG. 6 shows the fold response of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time using TL-CP233-Caspase 8 and TL-CP358-Caspase 8 Biosensors.

FIGS. 7A-D show the kinetic profile of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time at 37° C. using FF-CP359 Caspase 8 (FIG. 7A), TL-CP233-Caspase 8 (FIG. 7B), TL-CP358-Caspase 8 (FIG. 7C), and TL-CP358-Caspase3 (FIG. 7C) Biosensors.

FIG. 8 shows fold response of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time using TL-CP358-Caspase 3, TL-CP233-Caspase 8, TL-CP358-Caspase 8 and FF-CP359-Caspase 8 Biosensors.

FIG. 9 shows TEV protease Biosensors detect TEV co-expressed in CHO cells.

FIGS. 10A-D show the luminescence (photon counts/sec) of D54-MG cells expressing the various thermostable biosensors upon treatment with TRAIL at various time points (FIG. 10A), the fold induction (FIG. 10B), the average photon counts/sec at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 hrs post treatment (FIG. 10C) and a Western blot showing reporter expression (FIG. 10D).

FIGS. 11A-C show the luminescence (photon counts/sec) of D54-MG reporter xenografted nude mice treated with 8 mg/kg of TRAIL (FIG. 11A), the fold induction (FIG. 11B), and average photon counts/sec at baseline and 6 hrs post treatment (FIG. 11C).

FIGS. 12A-D show the normalized data compared to pre-treatment values for intratibial implanted MDA-MB23101833 cells stably expressing TL-CP233-Caspase 3 treated with TRAIL (FIG. 12A), the Z factor calculated for every time point (FIG. 12B), representative images taken at the indicated time points (FIG. 12C), and fold induction of xenografted animals tested treated with TRAIL (FIG. 12D).

FIGS. 13A-D show the relative luminescence upon compound treatment (max) from compounds in the NIH Clinical Collection Biofocus Library (FIG. 13A) and the TimTec Kinase Inhibitor Library (FIG. 13C) and the heat map of data acquired for the NIH Clinical Collection Biofocus Library (FIG. 13B) and the TimTec Kinase Inhibitor Library (FIG. 13D).

FIG. 14 shows SDS-PAGE gel analysis of the proteins at various stages during the purification process.

FIG. 15 shows the fold increase over control (background from MMP-2 sensor).

FIGS. 16A-B show the luminescence of the MMP-2 protein using the SensoLyte assay, (FIG. 16A) and the fold-induction (FIG. 16B).

FIG. 17 shows cleavage of CBS-HT by Caspase-3 detected by SDS-PAGE gel analysis.

FIGS. 18A-B show illustrations of the immobilization of CBS to a HaloLink resin (FIG. 18A) or a microtiter plate (FIG. 18B).

FIG. 19 shows the luminescence of protease biosensor expressed in a cell-free environment.

FIG. 20 shows the luminescence of protease biosensor expressed in E. coli.

FIGS. 21A-B show SDS-PAGE analysis of samples labeled with CA-TAM (FIG. 21A) and the luminescence of purified protease biosensor (FIG. 21B).

FIG. 22 shows the luminescence of the protease biosensor immobilized to a solid support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

In the following description of the methods of the invention, process steps are carried out at room temperature (about 22° C.) and atmospheric pressure unless otherwise specified. It also is specifically understood that any numerical range recited herein includes all values from the lower value to the upper value. For example, if a concentration range or beneficial effect range is stated as 1% to 50%, it is intended that values such as 2% to 40%, 10% to 30%, or 1% to 3%, etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. Similarly, if a sequence identity range is given as between, e.g., 60% to <100%, it is intended that 65%, 75%, 90%, etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. These are only examples of what is specifically intended, and all possible numerical values from the lowest value to the highest value are considered expressly stated in the application.

The term “thermostable luciferase” includes a luciferase that has enhanced stability at a given temperature (e.g., 22° C.) compared to a corresponding wild-type luciferase. For the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, the term “TL” is used to refer to a thermostable variant of Ppe2, where Ppe2 is a luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica. However, one skilled in the art would recognize that any thermostable luciferase could be used where TL is stated. For example, a luciferase from Photinus pyralis may be used, as well as luciferases from Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Pyrocoelia miyako, Lampyris noctiluca, Photuris pennsylvanica, Phengodes sp., Luciola mingrelica, and Photinus pyralis. (See Ye et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1339:39-52 (1997)).

The term “CP” refers to circularly-permuted. For example, “TL-CP” refers to a circularly-permuted thermostable variant of the Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica. The term “DEVD:DD” refers to a linker, i.e., an amino acid sequence that connects the N- and C-terminals of a circularly-permuted luciferase, that contains the DEVD caspase 3/7 recognition site and the three amino acids, GSL, that are on the C-terminal side of the DEVD caspase recognition site.

The term “biosensor” refers to an amino acid sequence containing a sensor region which can interact with a target molecule. When the target molecule interacts with the sensor region, molecular properties of a system are revealed.

The terms “Caspase-3/7 BioSensor” and “CBS” refers to a biosensor comprising a thermostable variant of the Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica circularly-permuted with a caspase-3/7 recognition site, i.e., one containing the caspase-3/7 recognition site, DEVD, at the junction between the modified TL fragments. For example, “TL-CP358-DEVD:DD” refers to a CBS circularly-permuted at position 358 relative to SEQ ID NO:2 and comprises the DEVD:DD linker connecting the N- and C-terminal ends of the circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase. The term “CBS variant” refers to a CBS with one or more amino acid substitutions relative to CBS.

The amino acid numbering used throughout this application to identify substituted residues is specified relative to the positions in the polypeptide sequence of the wild-type Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica, i.e., SEQ ID NO:2, or the thermostable variant of the Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica polypeptide sequence, i.e., SEQ ID NO:4. In addition, other mutants than that shown in SEQ ID NO:4 can be used.

The term “target molecule” refers to a molecule of interest that interacts with the biosensor, e.g., a protease, a kinase, a G-protein coupled receptor, cAMP, cGMP, enzyme cofactors, ions (e.g., calcium ion; hydrogen ion for use as a pH sensor), an antibody, a peptide, or a sugar that causes the biosensor to reveal molecular properties of a system.

The term “identity” in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptide sequences, refers to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window or designated region as measured using any number of sequence comparison algorithms or by manual alignment and visual inspection. Methods of alignment of sequence for comparison are well-known in the art.

The terms “cell,” “cell line,” and “host cell,” as used herein, are used interchangeably, and all such designations include progeny or potential progeny of these designations. The term “transformed cell” refers to a cell into which (or into an ancestor of which) has been introduced a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. Optionally, a nucleic acid molecule of the invention may be introduced into a suitable cell line so as to create a stably-transfected cell line capable of producing the protein or polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the invention. Vectors, cells, and methods for constructing such cell lines are well known in the art. The words “transformants” or “transformed cells” include the primary transformed cells derived from the originally transformed cell without regard to the number of transfers. All progeny may not be precisely identical in DNA content, due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. Nonetheless, mutant progeny that have the same functionality as screened for in the originally transformed cell are included in the definition of transformants.

As used herein, the term “heterologous” nucleic acid sequence or protein refers to a sequence that, relative to a reference sequence, has a different source, e.g., originates from a foreign species, or, if from the same species, it may be substantially modified from the original form. The term “homology” refers to a degree of complementarity between two or more sequences. There may be partial homology or complete homology (i.e., identity).

The term “nucleic acid molecule,” “polynucleotide,” or “nucleic acid sequence” as used herein, refers to nucleic acid, DNA or RNA, that comprises coding sequences necessary for the production of a polypeptide or protein precursor. The encoded polypeptide may be a full-length polypeptide, a fragment thereof (less than full-length), or a fusion of either the full-length polypeptide or fragment thereof with another polypeptide, yielding a fusion polypeptide.

A polynucleotide encoding a protein or polypeptide means a nucleic acid sequence comprising the coding region of a gene, or in other words, the nucleic acid sequence encodes a gene product. The coding region may be present in a cDNA, genomic DNA or RNA form. When present in a DNA form, the oligonucleotide may be single stranded (i.e., the sense strand) or double stranded. Suitable control elements such as enhancers/promoters, splice junctions, polyadenylation signals, etc. may be placed in close proximity to the coding region of the gene if needed to permit proper initiation of transcription and/or correct processing of the primary RNA transcript. Other control or regulatory elements include, but are not limited to, transcription factor binding sites, splicing signals, polyadenylation signals, termination signals and enhancer elements.

As used herein, “parental” refers to the starting amino acid or nucleotide sequence that is used to generate the variants with further manipulations of the present invention. For example a wild-type Photuris pennsylvanica Ppe2 luciferase (SEQ ID NO:2), a thermostable variant of the Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica, such as SEQ ID NO:4, or a circularly-permuted thermostable variant of the Ppe2 luciferase from Photuris pennsylvanica, such as SEQ ID NO:6, can be used as the starting sequence to generate the variants described in the present invention. In addition, other variants besides those shown in SEQ ID NOs:4 or 6 can be used as the parental sequence.

By “peptide,” “protein” and “polypeptide” is meant any chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification (e.g., glycosylation or phosphorylation). The nucleic acid molecules of the invention may also encode a variant of a naturally-occurring protein or polypeptide fragment thereof, which has an amino acid sequence that is at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of the naturally-occurring (native or wild-type) protein from which it is derived. For example, a coleopteran luciferase has at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 99% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2; a firefly luciferase has at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 99% amino acid sequence identity to one of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4 or the luciferases on which SEQ ID NOs:6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 20, 22, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, or 74 are based.

As used herein, “pure” means an object species is the predominant species present (i.e., on a molar basis it is more abundant than any other individual species in the composition), and in one embodiment a substantially purified fraction is a composition wherein the object species comprises at least about 50% (on a molar basis) of all macromolecular species present. Generally, a “substantially pure” composition will comprise more than about 80% of all macromolecular species present in the composition, in one embodiment more than about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, or about 99%. In one embodiment, the object species is purified to essential homogeneity (contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition by conventional detection methods) wherein the composition consists essentially of a single macromolecular species.

Nucleic acids are known to contain different types of mutations. A “substitution” refers to an alteration in the sequence of a nucleotide at one or more base position(s) from the parental sequence. Mutations may also refer to insertion or deletion of one or more bases, so that the nucleic acid sequence differs from a parental sequence (e.g., a wild-type) or has a replacement stop codon.

The term “responsivity” refers to the alteration in luminescence, e.g., increased or decreased luminescence, due to the interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule.

As used herein, a “sample” may refer to a cell, an animal, cell lysate, or an in vitro transcription/translation mixture.

The term “vector” refers to nucleic acid molecules into which fragments of DNA may be inserted or cloned and can be used to transfer DNA segment(s) into a cell and capable of replication in a cell. Vectors may be derived from plasmids, bacteriophages, viruses, cosmids, and the like.

The term “wild-type” as used herein, refers to a gene or gene product that has the characteristics of that gene or gene product isolated from a naturally occurring source. The gene or gene product can be naturally occurring or synthetic. A wild-type gene is that which is most frequently observed in a population and is thus arbitrarily designated the “wild-type” form of the gene. In contrast, the term “mutant” or “variant” refers to a gene or gene product that displays modifications in sequence and/or functional properties (i.e., altered characteristics) when compared to the wild-type gene or gene product. It is noted that naturally-occurring and synthetic mutants can be isolated and are identified by the fact that they have altered characteristics when compared to the wild-type gene or gene product.

Luminescence refers to the light output of a luciferase polypeptide under appropriate conditions, e.g., in the presence of a suitable substrate such as a luciferin. The light output may be measured as an instantaneous or near-instantaneous measure of light output (which is sometimes referred to as “T=0” luminescence or “flash”) upon start of the luminescence reaction, which may start upon addition of the luciferin substrate. The luminescence reaction in various embodiments is carried out in a solution containing lysate, for example, from the cells in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression system. In other embodiments, expression occurs in an in vitro system, or the luciferase protein is secreted into an extracellular medium, such that, in this latter case, it is not necessary to produce a lysate. In other embodiments, the luciferase is expressed in a whole cell(s) or in vivo, e.g., in animals. In some embodiments, the reaction is started by injecting appropriate materials, e.g., luciferin, into a reaction chamber (e.g., a well of a multiwell plate such as a 96-well plate) containing the luciferase protein. The reaction chamber may be situated in a reading device which can measure the light output, e.g., using a luminometer or photomultiplier. When the luciferase is expressed in whole cell(s) or in an animal, the reaction is started by the administration of a luciferase substrate, e.g., luciferin. For a whole cell(s), this administration may include addition of the luciferase substrate into the cell media. For animals, administration of the luciferase substrate may include injection or oral administration, e.g., inclusion of the substrate into the animal's food or water. The light output or luminescence may also be measured over time, for example in the same reaction chamber, cell(s) or animal, for a period of seconds, minutes, hours, etc. The light output or luminescence may be reported as the average over time, the half-life of decay of signal, the sum of the signal over a period of time, or as the peak output. Luminescence can also be detected via imaging, e.g., in vivo imaging.

Enhanced response includes the differential activity before and after the TL-CP biosensor interacts with a target molecule. The basal activity of the TL-CP biosensor is defined as the activity at assay time (0), before the biosensor interacts with a target molecule. The induced activity is defined as the activity at some later time (t) after the TL-CP biosensor has been interacted with a target molecule. The response or fold increase in activity is the ratio of induced to basal activity.

Enhanced luminescence includes increased light output as determined by suitable comparison of comparably-obtained measurements. As disclosed herein, one or more suitable amino acid substitutions to the TL-CP biosensor sequence produce TL-CP biosensor polypeptides which exhibit enhanced luminescence. Changes in the nucleotide sequence from the parental thermostable luciferase nucleotide sequence may contribute to enhanced luminescence by leading to an amino acid substitution and/or by enhancing protein expression.

Enhanced signal stability includes an increase in how long the signal from a luciferase continues to luminescence, for example, as measured by the half-life of decay of the signal in a time-course.

Enhanced protein stability includes increased thermostability (e.g., stability at elevated temperatures) and chemical stability (e.g., stability in the presence of denaturants such as detergents, including e.g., Triton X-100).

Luciferase biosensors have been previously described, see e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0153310, the disclosure of which are incorporated by reference herein. The sensor regions are cloned into a circularly-permuted luciferase such that when the luciferase biosensor interacts with a target molecule, an enhanced or increased luminescence is generated relative to a luciferase biosensor which has not been contact with a target molecule. Alternatively, the sensor regions are cloned into a circularly-permuted luciferase such that when the luciferase biosensor interacts with a target molecule, a decrease or no luminescence is generated relative to a luciferase biosensor which has not been in contact with a target molecule. The sensor regions may be useful for detecting the activity of a protease, the binding of cyclic nucleotides such as cAMP and cGMP, the presence or concentration of calcium, other ions or antibodies, the presence or concentrations of one or more G-protein coupled receptor ligands, a change in pH, the activity of a phosphatase or kinase or other enzymes, binding proteins or molecules of interest such as a peptide or a sugar known to those of skill in the art.

In one embodiment, a polynucleotide of the invention is optimized for expression in a particular host. As used herein, optimization includes codon optimization as well as, in eukaryotic cells, introduction of a Kozak sequence, and/or one or more introns. Thus, a nucleic acid molecule may have a codon composition that differs from that of a wild-type nucleic acid sequence encoding an unmodified luciferase at more than 30%, 35%, 40% or more than 45%, e.g., 50%, 55%, 60% or more of the codons.

In one embodiment of the invention, the codons that are different are those employed more frequently in a mammal, while in another embodiment the codons that are different are those employed more frequently in a plant. A particular type of mammal, e.g., human, may have a different set of preferred codons than another type of mammal. Likewise, a particular type of plant may have a different set of preferred codons than another type of plant. In one embodiment of the invention, the majority of the codons which differ are ones that are preferred codons in a desired host cell, as those optimized sequences can increase the strength of the signal for luciferase. Preferred codons for mammals (e.g., humans) and plants are known to the art (e.g., Wada et al. NAR 18: 2367(1990); Murray et al. NAR 17: 477 (1989); WO 02/16944).

In one embodiment, the corresponding wild-type luciferase is from a Coleopteran species, e.g., Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Pyrocoelia miyako, Lampyris noctiluca, Photuris pennsylvanica, Phengodes sp., Luciola mingrelica, and Photinus pyralis. (See Ye et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1339:39-52 (1997)).

In one embodiment, the TL-CP biosensor contains the caspase-3 recognition site comprising amino acids DEVD, at the junction between the TL. Upon interaction with caspase-3, the TL-CP biosensor is cleaved at the recognition site allowing the two TL fragments to form a more favorable, higher activity, conformation. In other embodiments, the TL-CP biosensor contains a recognition site for other proteases, e.g., caspase-8 recognition site (LETDG; SEQ ID NO:15), TEV protease recognition site (ENLYFQS; SEQ ID NO:16) or MMP-2 recognition site (PLGMWSR; SEQ ID NO: 75).

The amino acid sequence of the modified TL-CP biosensor is different than the amino acid sequence of a corresponding unmodified TL-CP biosensor (parental), e.g., a mutant luciferase with one or more substitutions in the luciferase sequences. In one embodiment, the luciferase sequences of the modified thermostable luciferase are circularly-permuted relative to the amino acid sequence of a corresponding unmodified thermostable luciferase (parental luciferase) wherein the permutation is at a site (residue) or in a region that is tolerant to modification.

In one embodiment, the TL-CP biosensor has one or more discrete (isolated) heterologous amino acid sequences, at least one of which directly or indirectly interacts with a target molecule, and optionally may include the deletion of one or more amino acids, e.g., at a site(s) or in a region(s) tolerant to modification including the N- and/or C-terminus of the unmodified thermostable luciferase, so long as the resulting TL-CP biosensor has bioluminescent activity before and/or after the interaction with the target, e.g., bioluminescent activity is altered after interaction with the target molecule, such as an alteration in light intensity, color or kinetic profile.

In one embodiment, a TL-CP of the invention comprises an amino acid sequence which is circularly-permuted relative to the amino acid sequence of a corresponding thermostable luciferase, such as an unmodified thermostable luciferase, resulting in a new N- and C-terminus in the circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase, at least one of which is at a site or in a region which is tolerant to modification, and is engineered to have functionality by introducing a sensor region comprising an amino acid sequence which directly or indirectly interacts with a target molecule. In another embodiment, the circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase includes other modifications, including but not limited to, insertions and/or deletions internal to the N- or C-terminus of the circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase, for instance, another insertion and/or a deletion, e.g., at or near the N- and C-terminus of the corresponding unmodified thermostable luciferase such as at residues corresponding to residues 1 to about 10 or about 30, or any integer in between, of the N-terminus and/or corresponding to the last residue or about the last 30, e.g., last 15, or any integer in between 1 and 30, residues of the C-terminus of the corresponding unmodified thermostable luciferase.

In one embodiment, a thermostable beetle luciferase may be circularly-permuted at a residue, for instance, residue 7, 37, 47, 75, 83, 107, 121, 144, 160, 174, 188, 198, 205, 225, 233, 242, 255, 268, 308, 316, 358, 377, 403, 435, 490 or 540, or in a region corresponding to residue 2 to 12; residue 32 to 53, e.g., residue 32 to 43 or residue 42 to 52; residue 70 to 88, e.g., residue 70 to 80 or residue 78 to 88; residue 102 to 126, e.g., residue 102 to 112 or residue 116 to 126; residue 139 to 165; residue 183 to 203; residue 220 to 247, e.g., residue 228 to 238; residue 262 to 273; residue 303 to 313; residue 353 to 408; residue 485 to 495; or residue 535 to 546 of a firefly luciferase, such as one of SEQ ID NOs:2 or 4. The residue numbering is based on that of an unmodified (native) firefly luciferase sequence. Corresponding positions may be identified by aligning luciferase sequences using, for instance, sequence alignment programs. Residues or regions in a luciferase tolerant to modification may be employed as sites to circularly permute the luciferase or for an insertion.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a biosensor comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker. In one embodiment, the thermostable luciferase is based on a version of Photuris pennsylvanica luciferase Ppe2 (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2) comprising amino acid substitutions which confer improved properties such as thermostability (SEQ ID NOs:3 and 4). The linker links the C-terminal portion of the modified thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the modified thermostable luciferase. The linker has a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified thermostable luciferase biosensor has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target relative to an unmodified thermostable luciferase biosensor.

In one embodiment, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor has enhanced response after interaction with a target molecule in cells. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor include a substitution of at least one amino acid corresponding to positions 5, 17, 21, 23, 26, 39, 44, 51, 81, 101, 103, 110, 114, 115, 119, 123, 126, 128, 133, 137, 186, 191, 192, 193, 196, 208, 211, 214, 226, 228, 230, 233, 264, 273, 275, 286, 287, 294, 295, 297, 302, 303, 304, 306, 308, 309, 313, 324, 329, 331, 343, 348, 353, 364, 374, 385, 389, 409, 420, 426, 427, 428, 431, 449, 456, 460, 461, 465, 466, 468, 471, 473, 482, 484, 485, 489, 493, 494, 497, 503, 507, 509, 510, 513, 516, 517, 521, 522, 523, 526, 530, 533, 536, 537, 542, or 543 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a TL-CP has a linker containing a sensor region connecting the N- and C-terminals of the thermostable luciferase, where the sensor region comprises an amino acid sequence, e.g., a protease recognition site or a kinase site, which directly interacts with a target molecule, e.g., a protease or kinase.

In one embodiment, the amino acid sequence that interacts with the target molecule is flanked by at least one linker, e.g., flanked at each end, such as a peptide linker, which linkers may be the same or different, which optionally improve luminescence and/or response upon interaction with a target molecule. In one embodiment, the amino acid sequence that interacts with the target molecule is flanked by at least one linker at the N-terminus, which optionally improves luminescence and/or response upon interaction with a target molecule. In one embodiment, the linker has at least one of the following sequences:

(SEQ ID NO: 23) G S S G G S G G S G G G, (SEQ ID NO: 24) G S S S D S D S S A G S, (SEQ ID NO: 25) G S N D S S G G S E G G, (SEQ ID NO: 26) G S N G G F D S S E G G, (SEQ ID NO: 27) G S I R W S G L S G G D, (SEQ ID NO: 28) G S R G G S V Y S E G G, (SEQ ID NO: 29) G S S E G S S D F G G D, (SEQ ID NO: 30) G S I V V S C S S E G G, (SEQ ID NO: 31) G S N W D S G C S R E G,  (SEQ ID NO: 32) G S N W D S G C S R E C, (SEQ ID NO: 33) G S S G C T G D A G G S,  (SEQ ID NO: 34) G S N W D S G C S R Q C , (SEQ ID NO: 35) G S S/N S/D/G D/S/G S/F D/G S/G S A/E G S/G, (SEQ ID NO: 36) G S I/R/S R/G/E W/G S G/V/S L/Y/D S/F G/E G  D/G, (SEQ ID NO: 37) G S I/N/S V/W/G V/D/C S/T C/G S/C/D S/A E/R/G  G/E G/S, (SEQ ID NO: 38) G S I/S V/G/A V/G S/C G/D G/D/S S/A G/E G/E  G/N,  (SEQ ID NO: 39) G S I/N/S V/W/G/A V/D/C/G S/T/C C/G S/C/D S/A  E/R/G G/E G/S, (SEQ ID NO: 40) G S I A G C G D A G E G, (SEQ ID NO: 41) G S N W D S G C S R E, (SEQ ID NO: 42) G S I A G C G D A G E G, (SEQ ID NO: 43) G S N W D S G C S R E G,  (SEQ ID NO: 44) N W D S G C S R E G,   or (SEQ ID NO: 45) I A G C G D A G E G.

The “/” mark indicates that the amino acid before or after the “/” may be used in that position. A linker employed in the biosensor of the invention is an amino acid sequence, the presence of which in the biosensor does not substantially decrease the activity of that biosensor, e.g., does not decrease the activity by more than 10-fold, such as by no more that 4-fold, or no more than 2-fold, relative to a corresponding biosensor that lacks the linker(s), and/or the presence of the linker employed in the biosensor of the invention increases luminescence or response to interacting with its target, relative to a corresponding biosensor that lacks the linker(s) or a corresponding biosensor having the linker(s) GSSGGSGGSGGG (SEQ ID NO:23), or relative to both corresponding biosensors.

In one embodiment, a peptide linker of the invention is positioned N-terminal to a sensor region of the invention and is capable of directly or indirectly interacting with a target molecule, e.g., a molecule to be detected. In one embodiment, a peptide linker of the invention is positioned C-terminal to that peptide sequence in a biosensor of the invention. In one embodiment, a peptide linker of the invention is positioned N-terminal and C-terminal to peptide sequence which is capable of directly or indirectly interacting with a target molecule to be detected.

In one embodiment, in the absence of a target molecule, the activity of a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention is less than the activity of a corresponding parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, e.g., the luminescence activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is about 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 70% or more, but less than 100% that of a corresponding parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, the activity of which circularly-permuted modified thermostable luciferase biosensor is optionally detectable. In another embodiment, in the absence of the target, the activity of a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention is substantially the same or greater than the activity of a parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, e.g., the luminescence activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention is about 1.5-fold, e.g., at least 2-, 3- or 5-fold or more, that of a parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. In the presence of the target molecule, the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention is detectably altered. For instance, a detectable alteration in activity of a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor in the presence of a target molecule is an alteration of at least 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 10%, or 100%, and up to 2-fold, 4-fold, 10-fold, 100-fold, 1,000-fold, 10,000-fold or more, relative to the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor in the absence of the target. Thus, the physical proximity of a target molecule which interacts with a sensor region present in the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor but not the parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, alters, e.g., decreases, eliminates or increases, the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. In one embodiment, the luminescent signal of a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention in the presence of the target is increased relative to the luminescent signal of a corresponding parental (unmodified) circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor luciferase in the presence of a target molecule.

The invention includes circularly-permuted biosensors, which luciferase sequence may include deletions of residues at the original (wild type) N- or C-termini, or both, e.g., deletion of 1 to 3 or more residues at the N-terminus and 1 to 6 or more residues at the C-terminus, as well as a sensor region which interacts with a target molecule or are affected by post-translational modifications (sensors). The luciferase sequences of a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase are the same or are substantially the same as the amino acid sequence of an unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. A polypeptide or peptide having substantially the same sequence means that an amino acid sequence is largely, but may not entirely be, the same and retains a functional activity of the sequence to which it is related. In general, two amino acid sequences are substantially the same or substantially homologous if they are at least 80% identical, e.g., have at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more identity.

In one embodiment, the modification may be the introduction of a recognition site for a hydrolase including but not limited to proteases, peptidases, esterases (e.g., cholesterol esterase), phosphatases (e.g., alkaline phosphatase) and the like. For instance, hydrolases include, but are not limited to, enzymes acting on peptide bonds (peptide hydrolases) such as aminopeptidases, dipeptidases, dipeptidyl-peptidases and tripeptidyl-peptidases, peptidyl-dipeptidases, serine-type carboxypeptidases, metallocarboxypeptidases, cysteine-type carboxypeptidases, omega peptidases, serine endopeptidases, cysteine endopeptidases, aspartic endopeptidases, metalloendopeptidases, threonine endopeptidases, and endopeptidases of unknown catalytic mechanism. For example, a modified thermostable beetle luciferase of the invention may comprise an enterokinase cleavage site, a caspase cleavage site, a coronavirus protease site (STLQ-SGLRKMA; SEQ ID NO:46), a kinase site, a HIV-1 protease site (SQNY-PIVQ or KAVRL-AEAMS; SEQ ID NO:47 and SEQ ID NO:48, respectively), a HCV protease site (AEDVVCC-SMSYS; SEQ ID NO:49) (see, e.g., Lee et al., 2003), a SARS virus protease site (e.g., QTSITSAVLQSGFRKMAFPS; SEQ ID NO:50, or VRQCSGVTFQGKFKKIVKGT; SEQ ID NO:51), a Granzyme B site, a rhinovirus protease site, e.g., rhinovirus 3C protease site, a prohormone convertase site, an interleukin-16-converting enzyme site, a CMV assembling site, a leishmandysin site, B. anthracis lethal factor, a botulinum neurotoxin light chain protease site, a beta-secretase site for amyloid precursor protein (VKM-DAEF; SEQ ID NO:56), prostate specific antigen sequence, a thrombin site, a renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme site, a cathepsin D site, a matrix metalloproteinase site, a uPA site, a plasmin site, a binding site for a cation, such as a calcium binding domain, a calmodulin binding domain, a cellulose binding domain, a chitin binding domain, a maltose binding protein domain, or a biotin binding domain. In another embodiment, a modified thermostable beetle luciferase of the invention may comprise a sequence recognized by a ligand such as an antibody or a metal such as calcium.

The invention also includes a stable cell line that expresses a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, comprises an expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention, and/or comprises a vector (e.g., a plasmid, virus, or defective viral particles) capable of expressing the nucleic acid molecule of the invention in a host cell. In one embodiment, the expression cassette comprises a promoter, e.g., a constitutive or regulatable promoter, operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, the expression cassette contains an inducible promoter. Also provided is a host cell, e.g., a prokaryotic cell or an eukaryotic cell such as a plant or vertebrate cell, e.g., a mammalian cell, including but not limited to a human, non-human primate, canine, feline, bovine, equine, ovine or rodent (e.g., rabbit, rat, ferret or mouse) cell, which comprises the expression cassette or vector of the invention, and a kit which comprises the nucleic acid molecule, expression cassette, vector, host cell or modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention.

For instance, a vector encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is mixed with a sample, e.g., a cell, cell lysate, in vitro transcription/translation mixture, or supernatant, and the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor in the sample detected or determined, e.g., optionally at one or more time points, or relative to a control sample without the target or having a differing amount of the target. An alteration in luminescent activity in the sample, for instance, over time, and/or relative to a control, e.g., a cell having a specified amount of a target molecule, indicates the presence or amount of the target molecule in the sample, or change in amount of the target molecule related to experimental condition. In one embodiment, a cell is contacted with a vector comprising a promoter, e.g., a regulatable or constitutive promoter, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase of the invention which comprises a sensor region which interacts with a cyclic nucleotide. In one embodiment, a transfected cell is cultured under conditions in which the promoter induces transient expression of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, and the presence or amount of luminescence determined. In another embodiment, a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention comprising a sensor region which interacts with a target molecule and a sample suspected of having the target molecule are mixed, and the amount of luminescence determined.

A modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention may be employed in applications where unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor cannot, such as, as a functional reporter to measure or detect various conditions and/or target molecules in a cell or in an animal, e.g., a mouse. For instance, a vector encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, or the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, is introduced to a cell, an animal, cell lysate, in vitro transcription/translation mixture, or supernatant, and the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor detected or determined, e.g., at one or more time points and relative to a corresponding unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. An alteration in luminescent activity in the cell, an animal, cell lysate, in vitro transcription/translation mixture, or supernatant over time, and/or relative to a control, e.g., a cell having the corresponding unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, indicates the presence of the protease. For instance, the invention includes a method to detect a virus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome. The method includes contacting a biological, e.g., a physiological tissue or fluid, sample with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. The biosensor comprises an amino acid recognition sequence for a protease of the virus. It is detected or determined whether the activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor in the presence of the sample is altered, thereby indicating whether the sample contains the virus.

In an aspect, the disclosure provides a method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in a sample comprising contacting the sample with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and measuring luminescence. In embodiments, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase comprises a sensor region for the target molecule. The sensor region may contain but is not limited to a protease recognition site, a kinase recognition site, an antibody binding site, a metal binding site, an ion biding site, a cyclic nucleotide binding site or a nucleotide binding site. In embodiments, the method may detect the presence or activity of target molecule which is a protease, a kinase, an antibody, a metal, an ion, a cyclic nucleotide or a nucleotide. In embodiments, the protease may be a caspase 3, caspase 8, TEV protease or MMP-2. In embodiments, the sample may be a cell, an animal, cell lysate, or an in vitro transcription/translation mixture. In embodiments, the method further comprises adding a test compound wherein the test compound may alter (e.g., decreases, eliminates, or increases) the activity of the target molecule. In embodiments, the substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor may be luciferin or a luciferin derivative.

The invention also provides a method of detecting the presence of a molecule of interest. For instance, a cell is contacted with a vector comprising a promoter, e.g., a regulatable promoter, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention which comprises an insertion/sensor region which interacts with the molecule of interest. In one embodiment, a transfected cell is cultured under conditions in which the promoter induces transient expression of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor, and a detectable activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is determined. In another embodiment, an animal, e.g., a mouse, is contacted with a vector comprising a promoter, e.g., a regulatable promoter, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention which comprises an insertion/sensor region which interacts with the molecule of interest or a transfected cell expressing the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the present invention. Detectable activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is then determined.

The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention comprises an amino acid sequence which interacts with a target molecule, i.e., molecule of interest, or is otherwise sensitive to conditions relative to the corresponding unmodified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. One or more mutated polynucleotides are selected which encode mutated modified circularly-permuted luciferase biosensors that have an altered interaction with the molecule of interest or altered activity under certain conditions relative to the interaction or activity of the modified circularly-permuted luciferase biosensor. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method which includes contacting a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention with a library of molecules, and detecting or determining whether one or more molecules interacts with the sensor region in the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor.

The invention also provides methods of screening for agents (“test” agents) capable of modulating the amount of the target molecule or molecule of interest present in a sample. “Modulation” refers to the capacity to either enhance or inhibit a functional property of biological activity or process (e.g., enzyme activity). Such enhancement or inhibition may be contingent on the occurrence of a specific event, such as activation of a signal transduction pathway, and/or may be manifest only in particular cell types. A “modulator” refers to an agent (naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring), such as, for example, a biological macromolecule (e.g., nucleic acid, protein, non-peptide, or organic molecule), small molecules, an extract made from biological materials such as bacteria, plants, fungi, or animal (particularly mammalian) cells or tissues, or any other agent. Modulators are evaluated for potential activity as inhibitors or activators (directly or indirectly) of a biological process or processes (e.g., agonist, partial antagonist, partial agonist, or antagonist) by inclusion in the screening assays described herein. The activities (or activity) of a modulator may be known, unknown or partially known. Such modulators can be screened using the methods of the invention. The term “test agent” or “test compound” refers to an agent or compound to be tested by one or more screening method(s) of the invention as a putative modulator. Usually, various predetermined concentrations are used for screening such as 0.01 μM, 0.1 μM, 1.0 μM, and 10.0 μM. Controls can include the measurement of a signal in the absence of the test agent or compound, comparison to an agent or compound known to modulate the target, or comparison to a sample (e.g., a cell, tissue or organism) before, during and/or after contacting with the test agent or compound.

In one embodiment, the method includes screening for agents or compounds that modulate protease activity. For example, in one embodiment, a method of identifying an agent or compound capable of modulating apoptosis is provided. Caspase family proteases have been associated with apoptosis. Thus, the method includes contacting a sample suspected of containing a caspase-family protease with an agent or compound suspected of modulating the caspase activity, and a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor having a cleavage site cleavable by the caspase. The activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is detected in the sample before and after contacting with the test agent or compound. An increase in activity after contacting with the agent is indicative of an agent or compound that inhibits apoptosis and a decrease is indicative of an agent that activates apoptosis.

Accordingly, the invention provides a screening system useful for identifying agents or compounds which modulate the cleavage of recognition sequence present in a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention and detecting its activity. This allows one to rapidly screen for protease activity modulators. Utilization of the screening system described herein provides a sensitive and rapid means to identify agents or compounds which modulate (e.g., inhibit or activate) a protease, for example, a caspase family protease. In particular, the invention contemplates modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensors in which the sensor region includes an amino acid sequence that is a cleavage site for an enzyme of interest. Thus, when the molecule of interest is a protease, the insertion comprises a peptide containing a cleavage recognition sequence for the protease. A cleavage recognition sequence for a protease is a specific amino acid sequence recognized by the protease during proteolytic cleavage. Accordingly, the invention provides methods to determine the amount of a protease in a sample by contacting the sample with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention comprising a sensor region for the protease and measuring changes in luciferase activity. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention can be used for, among other things, monitoring the activity of a protease inside a cell or an animal that expresses the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor.

The assays of the invention can be used to screen drugs to identify agents or compounds that alter the activity of a protease that cleaves the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor. In one embodiment, the assay is performed on a sample in vitro containing a protease. A sample containing a known amount of protease is mixed with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention and with a test agent. The amount of the protease activity in the sample is then determined as described above. The amount of activity per mole of protease in the presence of the test agent is compared with the activity per mole of protease in the absence of the test agent. A difference indicates that the test agent alters the activity of the protease. Accordingly, the alterations may be an increase in protease activity resulting in a decrease in modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity or a decrease in protease activity corresponding to an increase or maintenance of modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity.

In one embodiment, the ability of an agent to alter protease activity is determined. In this assay, cells are conditioned or contacted with an agent or compound suspected of modulating protease activity. The cell or cells in the culture are lysed and protease activity measured. For example, a lysed cell sample containing a known or unknown amount of protease is mixed with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention. The amount of the protease activity in the sample is then determined as above by determining the degree of modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity in a control or non-treated sample and the treated lysed cellular sample. The activity or inhibition can be calculated based on a per microgram or milligram protein in the sample. Accordingly, the modulation in protease activity includes an increase in protease activity resulting in a decrease in modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity or a decrease in protease activity corresponding to an increase or maintenance of modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity. Typically, the difference is calibrated against standard measurements to yield an absolute amount of protease activity. A test agent that inhibits or blocks the activity or expression of the protease can be detected by increased modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity in treated cells compared to untreated controls.

In another embodiment, the ability of an agent or compound to alter protease activity in vivo is determined. In an in vivo assay, cells transfected, either transiently or stably, with an expression vector encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention are exposed to different amounts of the test agent or test compound, and the effect of the test agent or test compound on luciferase activity in a cell can be determined. Typically, the difference is calibrated against standard measurements to yield an absolute amount of protease activity. A test agent that inhibits or blocks the activity or expression of the protease can be detected by increased modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor activity in treated cells compared to untreated controls.

In another embodiment, the ability of an agent or compound to alter protease activity in an animal is determined. In a whole animal assay, an animal, e.g., mouse, may be injected with cells that express a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention, and the animal exposed to different amounts of a test agent or test compound. In embodiments, cells that express a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention may be implanted in an animal. In embodiments, the substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase is injected into the animal. In embodiments, the substrate is injected into the cells of the animal. The effect of the test agent or test compound on luciferase activity in the animal can then be determined.

The disclosure also provides a method of immobilizing the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor to a solid support, e.g., a particle, resin, column, solid surface (e.g., plate, slide, or well bottom), etc. The immobilized biosensor can then be used to detect the presence or activity of a molecule of interest. In embodiments, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor of the invention, either in purified form or expressed in cell lysate, e.g., E. coli cell lysate, can be immobilized onto a solid support, e.g., resin or solid surface, and a molecule of interest detected. The molecule of interest can be purified form of the molecule or also be expressed in a cell lysate. Detectable activity of the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is then determined.

In an aspect, the disclosure provides a method to detect apoptosis in a sample comprising contacting the sample with a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor and a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and detecting luminescence in the sample. In embodiments, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor contains a sensor region for a molecule involved in apoptosis.

The materials and composition for use in the assay of the invention are ideally suited for the preparation of a kit. Such a kit may comprise a carrier means containing one or more container means such as vials, tubes, and the like, each of the containers means comprising one of the separate elements to be used in the method. One of the containers comprises a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor or polynucleotide (e.g., in the form of a vector) of the invention. A second container may contain a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor.

The invention will be further described by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example I Generation of a Modified Thermostable Luciferase Biosensor with Increased Responsivity in Cells

The Caspase-3 BioSensor (CBS) is a thermostable Photuris pennsylvanica luciferase (TL), circularly-permuted (CP) at amino acid 358, with a caspase-3 recognition site, i.e., one containing the caspase-3 recognition site comprising amino acids DEVD, at the junction between the TL fragments. The specific CBS that was used as the starting template is termed TL-CP358-DEVD:DD. The amino acid sequence of this CBS can be represented as: M/TL residues 358-544/SDEVDGSL/TL residues 4-354/V (SEQ ID NO:6). The amino acid positions in the CP TL correlate to those of the non-CP TL sequence (provided in the attached appendix). Upon treatment with caspase-3, CBS is cleaved at the recognition site allowing the two TL fragments to form a more favorable, higher activity, conformation.

The utility of CBS is the differential activity before and after cleavage by caspase-3. The basal activity of CBS is defined as the activity at assay time (0), before caspase-3 has had time to cleave at the recognition site. The induced activity is defined as the activity at some later time (t) after CBS has been cleaved by caspase-3. The response or fold increase in activity, is the ratio of induced to basal activity. Substitutions in TL-CP358-DEVD:DD were generated to develop CBS variants with enhanced responsivity to induction using the error-prone, mutagenic PCR-based system GeneMorph II (Stratagene; Daugherty, PNAS USA 97(5):2029 (2000)), according to manufacturer's instructions.

The resulting library was expressed in E. coli and screened for luciferase activity with and without pre-treatment with recombinant caspase-3 (data not shown). CBS variants having the best signal and response characteristics were then evaluated in HEK293 cells by kinetic assay measuring the response to TNF-α-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) treatment (Wiley, S. R. et al., Immunity 3:673 (1995); Niles, A. L. et al., Meth. Mol. Biol. 414:137 (2008)). TRAIL induces apoptosis via activation of the death receptor to form active caspase-8, which in turn activates procaspase 3 to produce caspase-3. The appearance of active caspase-3 should be accompanied by an increase in luminescence as the CBS variants are cleaved and activated. Briefly, HEK293 cells, plated at 15,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate, were transiently transfected using TransIT-LTI (Minis Bio) with plasmid DNAs encoding various CBS variants with amino acid substitutions in TL-CP358-DEVD:DD. The same plasmids also carried a gene for constitutive expression of Renilla luciferase to act as a transfection control. Cells were pretreated with 2 mM luciferin for 2 hrs at 37° C. Cells were treated with 1 μg/mL TRAIL and assayed for 10 hrs at 37° C. Luminescence was monitored continuously over time (Luminometer: Varioskan Flash (Thermo) 1 sec integration time). Cells in replicate wells were lysed, at the time of TRAIL addition, i.e., time (0) and Renilla luciferase activity was measured. All biosensor data was then normalized for transfection efficiency using Renilla luciferase luminescence (Dual-GloAssay System; Promega Corporation).

Exemplary CBS variants include, but are not limited to those listed in Table 1. Table 1 lists the variants of TL-CP358-DEVD:DD, identified by clone name, showing improved response to TRAIL treatment. Improvements listed in Table 1 are normalized to the parental TL-CP358-DEVD:DD CBS. “BASAL” represents the normalized biosensor luminescence at TRAIL addition, i.e., time (0), “INDUCED” represents the normalized biosensor luminescence at roughly 10 hrs after TRAIL addition, and “RESPONSE” represents the fold-induction, i.e., the ratio of INDUCED to BASAL activity.

Standard sequencing techniques known in the art were used to identify the amino acid substitution in each clone (see Table 1). The amino acid position is based on parental TL, e.g., Pro at position 2 of the variants=TL 358; the residues to the N-terminus of the DEVD therefore represent TL residues 358-544(Gly); the residues to the C-terminus of the DEVD represent TL residues 4(Lys)-354(Gly) (See FIG. 1 for examples). Each amino acid substitution is indicated by the position corresponding to the amino acid position in the parental TL, not the TL-CP358-DEVD:DD sequence, whereby the first letter following the numerical position represents the corresponding amino acid in parental TL. If the amino acid is substituted with another amino acid, the second letter represents the amino acid substitution. If the amino acid is substituted with a stop codon, the substitution is indicated by “STOP.”

TABLE 1 Summary of the fold improvement in responsivity of CBS variants over the corresponding TL-CP358-DEVD: DD. IMPROVEMENT OVER TL-CP358-DEVD: DD CLONE BASAL INDUCED RESPONSE mut#1 mut#2 mut#3 mut#4 mut#5 mut#6 01: E-12 0.35 0.71 2.04 021AD 01: G-12 0.00 0.00 2.11 044AD 01: G-03 0.47 0.59 1.26 128SP 01: E-11 0.4 0.6 1.3 193SP 09: A-11 0.69 1.17 1.69 273LQ 01: H-06 0.22 0.39 1.77 275SP 13: F-03 0.30 1.02 3.41 503DG 03: E-12 0.44 0.50 1.16 286LH 01: C-04 0.15 0.65 4.20 294LH 05: C-07 0.16 0.20 1.30 294LP 14: A-04 0.34 0.95 2.77 297SG 12: B-10 1.15 1.34 1.16 29751 13: B-03 0.74 1.45 1.95 329RW 14: F-06 0.20 1.12 5.74 409AV 05: C-02 0.19 0.38 2.02 461PL 06: A-12 0.04 0.14 3.26 465DV 01: D-02 0.1 0.6 5.3 4711T 14: G-12 0.11 0.30 2.69 482AS 06: G-09 0.55 1.30 2.69 482AV 07: C-06 0.16 0.61 3.79 485VE 05: B-06 0.05 0.20 4.06 497VA 07: B-02 0.5 1.0 1.8 503SG 01: A-05 0.2 0.6 3.6 507T1 05: D-11 0.04 0.16 3.55 522PS 02: B-09 0.25 0.55 2.39 526TS 06: D-04 0.18 0.45 2.42 530DV 01: F-02 0.58 0.67 1.15 543NS 05: E-06 0.12 0.41 3.51 017EG 513GA 09: D-10 0.19 0.43 2.21 026FY 530DG 13: B-04 0.51 1.26 2.48 051LS 193SP 01: H-08 0.34 0.67 1.96 110EV 304DA 11: A-11 0.71 1.16 1.63 115HY 5211V 05: G-10 0.43 0.82 1.92 123RH 303YD 04: A-05 0.21 0.45 2.20 128SP 523KQ 12: D-08 330.89 764.74 2.31 192AT 389LS 05: D-06 0.55 1.03 1.87 193SP 1141K 15: E-10 0.06 0.17 2.73 196FY 530DG 11: F-07 0.23 0.69 2.96 208MK 466AG 04: H-08 0.06 0.17 3.03 226FY 509KT 07: C-02 0.29 0.78 2.66 264MT 303YN 01: E-04 0.22 0.57 2.63 294LH 304DE 13: C-09 0.55 1.36 2.46 294LH 308L1 04: H-07 0.14 0.25 1.80 294LP 510WR 14: G-10 0.23 0.50 2.17 302KE 530DV 01: B-08 0.07 0.15 2.20 308LS 343E(STOP) 13: G-12 0.37 1.06 2.89 309KN 331K1 16: D-12 0.2 0.6 2.4 329RQ 530DV 05: A-07 0.29 0.61 2.10 353K(STOP) 530DA 09: E-03 0.54 1.26 2.33 3641M 530DA 18: C-05 0.07 0.29 4.24 374DY 431FL 13: A-05 0.09 0.18 2.67 374DY 431FS 08: A-12 0.24 0.75 3.13 385EG 465DG 01: C-11 0.01 0.10 8.50 420GR 489GR 04: A-08 0.01 0.03 3.92 468V1 484VL 04: G-10 0.17 0.53 3.14 484V1 516KN 04: D-01 0.66 0.79 1.21 543NS 494EV 04: E-11 0.14 0.42 3.07 081SC 374DV 517FC 01: H-11 0.03 0.07 2.15 101VA 286LP 3641L 05: C-06 0.21 0.41 2.01 1191N 294LH 542TP 04: B-09 0.10 0.16 1.66 128SP 211HL 287VA 11: D-05 0.20 0.46 2.25 137NY 493NY 507T1 10: D-04 0.17 0.41 2.33 196FY 228NT 530DG 11: B-03 0.04 0.19 4.57 208ML 2301T 273LP 07: B-04 0.24 0.61 2.54 295AV 449AT 537ML 04: C-03 0.2 0.7 2.9 523K1 533VA 536QR 10: D-11 0.51 1.31 2.58 005ND 133QL 228NT 294LH 15: D-11 0.27 1.00 3.64 021AS 426DN 428DG 526TS 11: A-06 0.23 0.85 3.73 0391T 2141V 348VA 507T1 14: H-06 0.16 0.69 4.24 186N1 233TM 427ND 465DG 05: F-11 0.94 1.50 1.58 103PS 191VA 306SP 313ST 473DV 11: B-10 0.53 1.19 2.25 126FC 466AV 4711M 536QR 543NK 10: D-03 0.34 1.06 3.09 023EG 228NT 309KE 324EG 4561V 460HL

Example II Evaluation of Specific Combinations of Mutations in Thermostable Luciferase Caspase-3 Biosensors

Additional CBS variants were generated using the oligo-based site-directed mutagenesis kit Quik Change (Stratagene; Kunkel, PNAS USA 82(2):488 (1985)), according to the manufacturer's instructions. The amino acid substitutions identified in those variants from Example I with the most improved response, specifically clones 12:B-10, 01:A-05, 04:C-03, 01:E-11, 16:D-12, 01:D-02 and 07:B-02, were combined and evaluated in HEK293 cells as in Example I. The amino acid substitutions used to generate the additional CBS variants were 193SP, 297SI, 329RQ, 471IT, 503SG, 507TI, 523KI, 533VA, and 536QR corresponding to SEQ ID NO:2. Exemplary CBS variants include, but are not limited to, those listed in Table 2. Table 2 identifies the clone (“NEW #”), the amino acid substitutions found in the clone indicated by an X in the column which indicate the amino acid substitution, 193SP, 297SI, 329RQ, 471IT, 503SG, 507TI, 523KI, 533VA, and 536QR, the improvement in Basal, Induced and Response over the corresponding starting TL-CP358-DEVD:DD.

TABLE 2 Summary of the fold improvement in responsivity of CBS variants with specific amino acid substitution combinations over the corresponding TL-CP358-DEVD: DD. IMPROVEMENT OVER TL-CP358-DEVD: DD NEW # 193SP 297SI 329RQ 471IT 503SG 507TI 523KI 533VA 536QR BASAL INDUCED RESPONSE FC7: 02 X X X X X X 0.023 0.070 3.112 FC7: 05 X X X X X X 0.028 0.089 3.197 FC7: 06 X X X X X X 0.007 0.016 2.444 FC7: 07 X X X X X X 0.005 0.008 1.483 FC7: 08 X X X X X 0.007 0.009 1.365 FC7: 12 X X X X X 0.077 0.168 2.186 FC7: 15 X X X X X 0.038 0.048 1.253 FC7: 16 X X X X X 0.010 0.019 2.014 FC7: 17 X X X X X 0.060 0.153 2.543 FC7: 18 X X X X X 0.070 0.168 2.411 FC7: 19 X X X X X 0.161 0.353 2.194 FC7: 21 X X X X X 0.123 0.235 1.920 FC7: 22 X X X X X 0.044 0.143 3.263 FC7: 24 X X X X 0.035 0.191 5.480 FC7: 26 X X X X 0.065 0.186 2.843 FC7: 27 X X X X 0.033 0.069 2.093 FC7: 28 X X X X 0.019 0.044 2.400 FC7: 30 X X X X 0.110 0.288 2.614 FC7: 31 X X X X 0.241 0.496 2.053 FC7: 32 X X X X 0.090 0.225 2.485 FC7: 33 X X X X 0.070 0.344 4.886 FC7: 36 X X X X 0.218 0.390 1.789 FC7: 37 X X X X 0.435 0.775 1.781 FC7: 39 X X X X 0.147 0.294 2.000 FC7: 40 X X X X 0.273 0.477 1.749 FC7: 41 X X X X 0.186 0.573 3.081 FC7: 42 X X X X 0.131 0.235 1.803 FC7: 43 X X X 0.028 0.189 6.735 FC7: 44 X X X 0.015 0.021 1.390 FC7: 45 X X X 0.184 0.559 3.041 FC7: 46 X X X 0.125 0.349 2.782 FC7: 47 X X X 0.141 0.392 2.782 FC7: 49 X X X 0.167 0.852 5.115 FC7: 50 X X X 0.192 0.724 3.765 FC7: 52 X X X 0.178 0.369 2.077 FC7: 54 X X X 0.345 0.728 2.109 FC7: 55 X X X 0.356 0.460 1.292 FC7: 56 X X X 0.644 0.818 1.271 FC7: 58 X X 0.110 0.347 3.153 FC7: 59 X X 0.198 0.704 3.549 FC7: 60 X X 0.145 0.497 3.429 FC7: 61 X X 0.505 0.926 1.833 FC7: 62 X X 0.460 0.955 2.078 FC7: 63 X X 0.407 0.694 1.705 FC7: 64 X X X X 0.213 0.669 3.139 FC7: 65 X X X 0.048 0.091 1.882

Many of the combinations of substitutions tested demonstrated increased responsivity as compared to the parental TL-CP358-DEVD:DD biosensor or the variants disclosed in Table 1. Four CBS variants, namely 01:A-05, FC7:24, FC7:43 and FC7:49, were of particular interest, (see FIG. 1 and Table 3). FIG. 1 shows the position of the four amino acid substitutions, I471T, 5503G, T5071, and S193P, incorporated into these variants in the parental TL-CP358-DEVD:DD sequence and the positions corrected for the circular permutation sites (see also Table 3). The top cartoon in FIG. 1 indicates the location of the substitutions based on sequential numbering of the primary amino acid sequence. The bottom cartoon in FIG. 1 indicates the codon designations based on the parental TL-CP358-DEVD:DD. The nucleotide changes are as follows: 471: ata>aca; 503: agt>ggt; 507: aca>ata; 193: tcg>ccg.

TABLE 3 Summary of amino acid substitutions found in clones 01:1-05, FC7:24, FC7:43 and FC7:43. Clone Substitution(s) 01:A-05 T507I FC7:24 I471T S503G T507I S193P FC7:43 I471T S503G T507I FC7:49 S503G T507I S193P

The response to TRAIL in live cells in the improved CBS variants 01:A-05, FC7:24, FC7:43 and FC7:49 (“1A5”, “24”, “43”, and “49”, respectively) was compared to the parental TL-CP358-DEVD:DD (“TL-CP”) in FIGS. 2A-B and 3A-B over a 10 hr time period. Variant 01:A-05 had 2 times and about 4.8 times greater RESPONSE after 2 and 10 hrs TRAIL treatment, respectively, compared with TL-CP358-DEVD:DD (FIGS. 2A and 2B). After 2 hrs, variants FC7:24 and FC7:49 had about 2 times greater response than TL-CP358-DEVD:DD and variant 43 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). After 10 hrs, variants FC7:24 and FC7:49 had about 3.2-3.7 times greater response than TL-CP358-DEVD:DD (FIGS. 3A and 3B), while variant FC7:43 had about 2.2 times greater response. These data demonstrates that CBS biosensors can be generated to have improved response by incorporating one or more of these four amino acid substitutions, I471T, 5503G, T5071, and S193P.

Example III

Additional CBS variants were generated to have different linker sequences, such as SSDEVDGSSG (SEQ ID NO:52), SSGSDEVDGSLSSG (SEQ ID NO:53), SDEVDGSL (SEQ ID NO:54), or DEVDG (SEQ ID NO:55). The CBS variants were evaluated in HEK293 cells as in Example I. Exemplary CBS variants include, but are not limited to, those listed in FIG. 4. All biosensor data was then normalized for transfection efficiency using Renilla luciferase luminescence as in Example I. FIG. 4 identifies the clone by the linker sequence it contains (“Linker”) and shows the luminescence in RLUs at TRAIL addition, i.e., time (0), (“Basal (t=0)”), at roughly 10 hrs after TRAIL addition (“Induced (10 h)”) and the fold-induction, i.e., the ration of Induced to Basal Activity (“Response (10 h)”). The common linker clone between the two experiments is #2 (i.e., SSGSDEVDGSLSSG). The difference in the numbers is typical variation between experiments. Linker #3 is the same linker found in the clone referred to as “TL-CP358-DEVD:DD.”

Example IV Evaluation of the Mutant Thermostable Luciferase Biosensors to Detect Caspase-8

To evaluate whether the mutant thermostable luciferase biosensors of the present invention can be used to detect Caspase-8 activity in cells, biosensors were generated that contained the Caspase-8 cleavage site, LETDG (SEQ ID NO:15). Two different biosensors, TL-CP358-Caspase-8 and TL-CP233-Caspase-8 were used. As controls, the firefly (Photinus pyralis; Ppy) luciferase biosensors FF-CP234-Caspase-8 (M/Ppy residues 234-544/LETDG/Ppy residues 4-230/V), FF-CP359-Caspase-8 (M/Ppy residues 359-544/LETDG/Ppy residues 4-355/V), and TL-CP358-DEVD. Table 4 provides sequence details of the biosensors.

TABLE 4 Caspase  Cleavage site Lucif- Construct with linker erase Fragments TL-CP358-Caspase 8 GSSLETDSSG TL Ppe 358-543 and 4-354 (SEQ ID NOs: 59 and 60) (SEQ ID NO: 76) TL-CP233-Caspase 8 GSSLETDSSG TL Ppe 233-543 and 4-232 (SEQ ID NOs: 57 and 58) (SEQ ID NO: 76) FF-CP234-caspase-8 GSSLETDSSG Ppy 234-544 and 4-233 (SEQ ID NOs: 21 and 22) (SEQ ID NO: 76) FF-CP359-caspase-8 GSSLETDSSG Ppy 359-544 and 4-355 (SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20) (SEQ ID NO: 76) TL-CP358-DEVD  GSSDEVDSSG TL Ppe 358-543 and 4-354 (SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6) (SEQ ID NO: 77)

All biosensors were transfected into HeLa cells. Cells were plated at a (10,000/well) into a 96-well tissue culture plate. Biosensor DNA was prepared for transfection into the cells as described in Table 4. Thirty 10 μL reactions were set up for each biosensor. TransIT® LTI (LTI; Mims) transfection master mix was prepared by mixing 1650 μL DMEM with 49.5 μL LTI. The master mix was incubated for 15 min at room temperature. 300 μL of the master mix was then added to each biosensor DNA (enough for 30 reactions; 0.1 μg/reaction) and incubated for another 15 min at room temperature (Table 5). 10 μL of the biosensor DNA-transfection master mix solution was added to the cells in the appropriate wells. The cells were then incubated overnight at 37° C., 5% CO₂.

TABLE 5 TL- TL- CP233- CP358- FF-CP234- FF-CP359- caspase- caspase- caspase-8 caspase-8 8 8 concentration DNA 0.309 0.363 0.327 0.348 amount for 30 reactions 9.71 8.26 9.17 8.62 (0.1 μg/well) volume of DMEM 300 300 300 300 per 30 reactions (10 μL) μL of Mirus LT1 9 9 9 9 per 30 reactions

After overnight incubation, the media was removed from the cells and replaced with CO₂ Independent Media (Invitrogen Cat. No. 18045088) with 2 mM Luciferin EF (Promega Cat. No. E6551). Cells were pre-equilibrated with Luciferin EF for 2 hrs in a Varioskan luminometer with bioluminescence readings taken every 20 min. Following incubation, the cells were either induced with 1 μg/mL TRAIL in CO₂ Independent Media+10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or no compound (control; media+10% FBS only). The cells were again incubated at 37° C. in a Varioskan luminometer for 500+ min with bioluminescence measured every 20 min.

FIGS. 5-8 demonstrate at TL-CP233-Caspase 8 and TL-CP358-Caspase 8 biosensors can detect Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL. FIGS. 5 and 7 identify the kinetic profiles of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time at 37° C. FIGS. 6 and 8 identify the fold response of Caspase 8 activation by TRAIL over time. Fold induction of activation was calculated by dividing the signal of samples with TRAIL over the signals without trail at a given time point. FIGS. 7 and 8 show Caspase 3 induction by Trail as measured by TL-CP358-DEVD as well as Caspase 8 induction.

Example V Activation of TEV Protease Mutant Thermostable Luciferase Biosensor

To evaluate whether the mutant thermostable luciferase biosensors of the present invention can detect TEV protease activity in cells, the TL-CP233 biosensor, TL-CP233-TEV, containing the TEV protease cleavage site GSS-ENLYFQS-SSG (SEQ ID NO:78) was generated. TL-CP233-TEV has an amino acid sequence that can be represented as: M/TL residues 233-544/GSS-ENLYFQS-SSG TL residues 4-233/V (SEQ ID NOs:61 and 62). As controls, the firefly (Photinus pyralis; Ppy) luciferase biosensors FF-CP235-TEV (M/Ppy residues 234-544/GSS-ENLYFQS-SSG/Ppy residues 4-233/V; SEQ ID NOs:63 and 64), FF-CP269-TEV (M/Ppy residues 269-544/GSS-ENLYFQS-SSG/Ppy residues 4-268/V; SEQ ID NOs:65 and 66), and FF-CP359-TEV (M/Ppy residues 359-544/GSS-ENLYFQS-SSG/Ppy residues 4-355/V; SEQ ID NOs:67 and 68) were used. For all transfections, TEV protease (Genbank accession no. BFB754) constitutively expressed from a CMV promoter was transfected (pF9a-BFB754). This construct also co-expresses Renilla luciferase for use as a transfection efficiency control.

Each of the biosensors and TEV protease constructs were transfected in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Cells were plated at (15,000 cells per well) into a 96-well tissue culture plate. The transfection solution was prepared according to Table 6. Each sensor was co-transfected with either the TEV protease or a carrier vector (pF9a-null).

TABLE 6 DNA Amount for 60 wells of a 96-well plate (600 μL of media plus 18 μL Mirus LT1 plus DNA) concentration 0.202 0.177 0.38 0.342 0.261 0.214 0.214 construct pF9a-TEV pF9a Null FF-CP233- FF-CP268- FF-CP358- TL-CP233- Read protease TEV TEV TEV TEV Through Amount per Tfx (μg) 1.2 1.2 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 Amount per Tfx (μL) 5.9 6.8 15.3 17.0 22.2 27.1 27.1

Cells were incubated overnight for 24 hrs at 37° C., 5% CO₂. After overnight incubation, cells were equilibrated with media and 5 mM Luciferin EF for 2 hrs. Bioluminescence was then measured at 37° C. in a Varioskan luminometer. Results were normalized to Renilla to control for transfection efficiencies.

The Biosensor without the TEV recognition sequence (FF-CP233-Read through; FF-CP233-RT) is not activated by TEV protease while the other biosensors were activated by TEV protease (FIG. 9).

Example VI Molecular Imaging of Apoptosis in Glioma Cells

To demonstrate that the mutant thermostable biosensors of the present invention can be used to detect cell death in cells, the thermostable caspase 3 biosensors, TL-CP233-Caspase 3 (“233”; SEQ ID NOs:17 and 18), TL-CP358-Caspase 3 (“358V2”; SEQ ID NOs:5 and 6) and the mutant thermostable caspase 3 biosensors 1A5 (“358V3”; SEQ ID NOs:7 and 8), 24 (“358V4”; SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10), 43 (“358V5”; SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12) and 49 (“358V6”; SEQ ID NOs:13 and 14) were stably expressed in the glioma cell line D54-MG, the cells treated with TRAIL and bioluminescence measured to detect caspase 3 activity.

To derive cells stably expressing the thermostable biosensors, D54-MG cells were transfected with the biosensors. The biosensors were subcloned into pEF vector containing a neomycin resistance gene (Invitrogen) via PCR amplification and inserted into the multiple cloning site at the SalI and EcoRI restriction sites. Transfections were performed in 6-well tissue culture dishes using 3 μL Fugene 6 transfection reagent (Roche) and 1 μg plasmid DNA. Cells were placed in RPMI media (Gibco) containing 10% FBS (Gibco), Pen/Strep Glutamine (100×; Gibco) and 200 μg/mL geneticin (G418) for 48 hrs. Single clones were selected approximately 10 days after transfection using standard techniques known in the art. Briefly, the media was removed from the cells, and the cells were gently washed with PBS. Round filter papers were soaked in trypsin and placed on a single colony. The filter paper, which contained the attached cells, was removed and placed into a 24-well tissue culture dish. Each individual clone was tested approximately 2-3 weeks after selection for reporter expression by Western blotting using a luciferase antibody (Promega; Cat. No. G7451) and bioluminescence (100 μg/mL D-Luciferin reconstituted in PBS was add directly to the media and detected). Clones with similar bioluminescent activity (highest fold induction) and reporter expression (determined by Western blot) were selected for use in detecting cell death.

To detect cell death, the stable D54-MG cells were seeded at 10,000 cells/well into a 96-well assay plate and allowed to incubate for 24 hrs at 37° C., 5% CO₂. After overnight incubation, the cells were treated with 200 ng/mL TRAIL and 100 μg/mL D-luciferin (Promega). Live cell bioluminescence was imaged at 2, 4, and 6 hrs. Photon counts were taken at the different time points pre- and post-TRAIL treatment using the Envision luminometer (Perkin Elmer). Reporter expression and TRAIL-induced apoptosis was further detected by Western blotting against luciferase and Caspase-3.

FIG. 10 demonstrates that upon treatment with TRAIL, D54-MG cells stably expressing the various thermostable biosensors resulted in a 100-200 fold induction in bioluminescent activity. D54-MG cells expressing different versions of the thermostable biosensors were untreated or treated with 200 ng/mL TRAIL and imaged at indicated time points; photon counts/sec were recorded at the indicated time points (FIG. 10A). The fold induction of D54-MG cells expressing different versions of the thermostable biosensors untreated or treated with 200 ng/mL TRAIL were calculated by normalizing the values (photons/sec) to baseline (time 0 hr) (FIG. 10B). The average photon counts/sec at baseline, 2 hrs, 4 hrs and 6 hrs post treatment in addition to fold changes achieved with different biosensor versions are depicted in FIG. 10C. FIG. 10D shows the detection of reporter expression and TRAIL induced apoptosis by Western blotting against luciferase and Caspase-3.

Example VII Mutant Thermostable Biosensors Use

To demonstrate the use of the mutant thermostable biosensors to detect cell death in vivo, D54-MG cells stably expressing either TL-CP233-Caspase 3 (“233”; SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18), TL-CP358-Caspase 3 (“358V2”; SEQ ID NOs:5 and 6), 1A5 (“358V3”; “3-S”; SEQ ID NOs:7 and 8), 43 (“358V5”; “5-R”; SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12) or 49 (“358V6”; “6-A”; SEQ ID NOs:13 and 14) were implanted into nude mice.

To establish a flank xenograft mouse model, 2×10⁶ D54-MG cells stably expressing one of the biosensors listed above (as described in Example VI) were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. Treatment with 8 mg/kg TRAIL started when tumors reached ˜100 mm³ as assayed by electronic digital caliper measurement. For in vivo bioluminescence detection, mice were anesthetized using 2% isofluorane/air mixture and injected intraperitoneally with a single dose (150 mg/kg) D-luciferin. Photon counts/sec were acquired before and 6 hrs post-TRAIL treatment (FIG. 11A) using IVIS imaging system (Caliper Life Sciences). Fold induction (FIG. 11B) was calculated by normalizing post treatment values to pre-treatment values per mouse.

The data demonstrates that the mutant thermostable biosensors of the present invention are extremely sensitive as 100 fold bioluminescence activation upon TRAIL treatment was seen in the mouse xenograft model. D54-MG reporter xenografted nude mice were treated with 8 mg/kg of TRAIL. Photon counts/sec were acquired pre- and post-treatment (FIG. 11). The fold induction was calculated by normalizing post treatment values to pre treatment values per mouse (FIG. 11B). FIG. 11C shows a table depicting the average photon counts/sec at baseline and 6 hrs post treatment in addition to fold changes achieved with different biosensor versions.

Example VIII Imaging of Cell Death in Breast Bone Metastasis

To demonstrate the use of the thermostable caspase-3 biosensors to detect cell death in animals, 100,000 MDA-MB231/1833 cells (“1833”; breast cancer cell line) stably expressing TL-CP233-Caspase-3 biosensor (derived as described in Example VI for glioma cells) were implanted into the tibia of nude mice. Tumor growth was followed by MRI and TRAIL treatment was initiated when the tumor reached 5-15 mm³.

For in vivo bioluminescence detection, mice were anesthetized using 2% isofluorane/air mixture and injected intraperitoneally with a single dose (150 mg/kg) D-luciferin. Photon counts/sec were acquired before and 6 hrs post-TRAIL treatment or as indicated in FIG. 12A-D using IVIS imaging system (Caliper Life Sciences). Fold induction (FIG. 11B) was calculated by normalizing post treatment values to pre-treatment values per mouse.

In FIG. 12A, intratibial implanted MDA-MB231/1833 cells stably expressing TL-CP233-Caspase-3 were treated with TRAIL (200 ng/mL) and imaged every hour for 10 consecutive min. Fold induction was calculated by normalizing data to pre-treatment value. In FIG. 12B, Z factors were calculated as described in Zhang et al (Biomol Screen. 4:67-73. 1999) for every time point, and an average Z factor of 0.82 sufficed assay suitability for high-throughput screening. In FIG. 12C, representative images taken at the indicated time points of intratibial implanted TL-CP233-Caspase-3 stably expressing MDA-MB231/1833 cells with the photons/sec. In FIG. 12D, fold induction of xenografted animals tested treated with TRAIL. This data highlights the usefulness of the thermostable biosensor for imaging cell death dynamically and over time in mouse models.

Example IX Utility of the Thermostable Caspase Biosensor in High-Throughput Screening

To demonstrate the utility of the thermostable biosensors for high-throughput screening (HTS), the MDA-MB231/1833 (“1833”) cells stably expressing TL-CP233-Caspase-3 from Example VIII were used to screen compounds in the NIH Clinical Collection Biofocus and TimTec Kinase Inhibitor libraries.

TL-CP233-Caspase-3 MDA-MB231/1833 cells were seeded at 10,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate. Forty-eight hrs post-seeding, the media was changed to CO₂ Independent Media containing 1% GloSensor cAMP Reagent (Promega; Cat. No. E1290) and incubated for 0-23 hrs with compound at a final concentration of 10 μM. A total of 483 compounds in the NIH Clinical Collection and 80 kinase inhibitors from the TimTec collection were tested. The addition of media and compound library was performed using a Titertek Multidrop Microplate Dispensor (ThermoFisher Scientific). Relative luminescence was calculated by normalizing values of compound treated wells to untreated wells. (FIGS. 13A and 13C). FIG. 13A shows the relative luminescence upon compound treatment (max) from compounds in the NIH Clinical Collection Biofocus Library. FIG. 13C shows the relative luminescence upon compound treatment (max) from compounds in the TimTec Kinase Inhibitor Library. Maximum values reaching above 4 were considered significant. Heat maps were generated using bioinformatics toolbox of Matlab Software and show correlation of biosensor activation over time. (FIGS. 13B and 13D). The Z-factor was calculated as previously described in Example VIII.

Due to the ability of repeated imaging of the thermostable biosensor, dynamics of apoptosis in response to various drugs could be imaged. This allowed for the identification of interesting death inducing compounds in the otherwise chemoresistant 1833 breast cancer cell line.

Example X Purification of MMP-2 Sensor

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a homologous group of zinc enzymes that participate in the breakdown of the major protein components of the extracellular matrix. Five major MMP have been identified in humans and implicated in connective tissue turnover and destruction. These include the fibroblast-type and neutrophil-type interstitial collagenases that hydrolyze the type I, II, and III collagens that make up the majority of the matrix. Fibroblast collagenase also hydrolyzes native type VII and X collagens. The MMP are sometimes referred to by a numerical code in which the fibroblast-type and neutrophil-type collagenases are designated MMP-1 and MMP-8, respectively. A 72-kDa gelatinase (MMP-2) is produced by proliferating fibroblasts and tumor cells, while a distinct 92-kDa gelatinase (MMP-9) is produced by neutrophils, macrophages, and certain transformed cells.

The MMP-2 sensor (SEQ ID NOs:69 and 70) used herein contains the 1A5 variant backbone and the human MMP-2 recognition site, PLGMWSR (SEQ ID NO:75). In addition, the MMP-2 sensor contains two purification tags: a GST tag on the N-terminus of the sensor that is separated from the sensor region by a TEV protease site (for removal of the GST tag from the purified MMP-2 sensor) and a 5×HQ (HQHQHQHQHQ; SEQ ID NO:79) tag on the C-terminus of the sensor.

Purification of the MMP-2 sensor was performed as follows using His and GST purification.

1. 2-5 mL cultures of E. coli KRX cells (Promega) containing the MMP-2 sensor were grown in LB/ampicillin with shaking at 37° C.

2. Each culture was diluted 1:100 in 1 L LB with 0.05% rhamnose and 0.05% glucose.

3. Incubated at 25° C. for 18-20 hrs.

4. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 5000 g for 5 min (split 1 L into 2-500 mL aliquots), cell paste weight was determined, and placed at −20° C. overnight.

5. One of the 2 cell pastes was resuspended with 30 mL lysis buffer (8.5 mL/g cell paste; 50 mM NaH₂PO₄, 300 mM NaCl, 10 mM Imidazole and pH to 8.0 with NaOH). 1 mg/mL lysozyme was added, and the resuspension was incubated on ice, with inverting occasionally, for 30 min.

6. The lysis solution was sonicated at power 6.0 for 2 min (5 sec on, 5 sec off). 100 μl of the sample was saved as “total” sample.

7. The lysis solution was spun at 16,000 g for 20 min. 100 μl of the sample was saved as “soluble” sample.

8. 1 mL 50% Ni-NTA resin (Qiagen; pre-washed in lysis buffer) per 6 mL lysate (5 mLs total) was added and mixed at 4° C. for 1 hr.

9. Sample was spun at 700 rpm on a tabletop centrifuge for 2 min. 100 μl of the sample was saved as “flowthrough” sample with the supernatant discarded.

10. The resin was washed in 40 mL lysis buffer, mixed at 4° C. for 5 min, spun at 700 rpm on a tabletop centrifuge for 2 min, and the supernatant was discarded.

11. The resin was then washed in 40 mL wash buffer (lysis buffer with 20 mM Imidazole), spun at 700 rpm on a tabletop centrifuge for 2 min, and the supernatant was discarded.

12. 10 mL of wash buffer was added and mixed, and the supernatant was added to an empty column.

13. The column was washed with 50 mL wash buffer and 100 μL resin was removed and saved.

14. The sensor was eluted from the column with 10 mL elution buffer (lysis buffer with 250 mM Imidazole) with 0.5 mL fractions collected and directly assayed using the Bradford Assay.

15. 100 μL of the resin was removed and saved, the elution fractions were combined, and the combined fraction was diluted to 10 mL in lysis buffer.

16. The combined fraction was dialyzed (1 hr with 1 L twice) in GST binding/wash buffer (1×PBS).

17. The dialyzed protein was added to 5 mL glutathione-sepharose resin slurry (GE Cat #17-0756-01) prewashed in GST binding/wash buffer) and was incubated for 1 hr at 4° C.

18. The resin mixture was spun at 700 rpm in a tabletop centrifuge for 2 min, 100 μL was saved as “flowthrough”, and the supernatant was discarded.

19. The resin was added to an empty column, washed with 50 mL GST binding/wash buffer, and 100 μL was removed.

20. The protein was eluted with elution buffer (1×PBS buffer with 10 mM reduced Glutathione). 0.5 mL fractions were collected and directly assayed using the Bradford assay. 100 μL of resin was removed and saved.

21. The saved fractions (“total”, “soluble”, “flowthrough” (his), His resin before elution, His resin after elution, after dialysis sample, flowthrough (GST), GST resin before elution, GST resin after elution and GST fractions) were analyzed on an SDS-PAGE gel (FIG. 14).

22. The GST fractions were combined and dialyzed in storage buffer (50 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT, 50% glycerol).

To demonstrate that the purified MMP-2 sensor can detect MMP-2, purified MMP-2 sensor (1.3 mg/mL) was diluted in buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 10 mM CaCl₂, and 0.05% Brij35) as described in FIG. 15. Activated MMP-2 (10 ng/μL; Anaspec) was added to the diluted MMP-2 sensor as described in FIG. 15. Total volume of the final reaction mixture was 50 μL. The mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hr. Bright-Glo Assay Reagent (Promega) was prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, and 50 μL added to the mixture. Luminescence was read immediately on a GloMax MultiPlus luminometer.

FIG. 15 presents the fold increase over control (background from MMP-2 sensor). The results demonstrate that a purified MMP-2 sensor according to the present invention can be used to detect as little as 0.75 ng protein.

To further demonstrate the sensitivity of the purified MMP-2 sensor, the fluorogenic SensoLyte 520 MMP-2 Assay (Anaspec) was also used to detect MMP-2 protein. The assay was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fluorescence was detected on a Tecan fluorometer at Ex490 nm/Em520 nm. FIGS. 16A-B report detection of 1.5 ng MMP-2 protein using the SensoLyte assay.

Example XI Cell-Free Expression of CBS

To demonstrate that the protease biosensor of the present invention can effectively and efficiently be cleaved by exogenous protease in a cell-free environment, the CBS variant 1A5 was expressed in wheat germ extract and used to detect Caspase-3.

The CBS variant 1A5 was cloned into the vector pFN19K HaloTag® (Promega Cat. No. G1841) to generate a CBS-HaloTag® (CBS-HT) fusion protein (SEQ ID NOs:71 and 72). 20 μl (8 μg) of the CBS-HT vector was added to 30 μl TnT® SP6 High-Yield Wheat Germ Expression System (Promega Cat. No. L3261) and incubated at 25° C. for 90 min.

For the CBS-HT caspase-3 cleavage reaction, one volume of the expression reaction was incubated with an equal volume of either an E. coli lysate containing caspase-3 or C(3) Lysis Buffer (0.8× FastBreak (Promega Cat. No. V857A), 10 mM DTT, 0.1% CHAPS, 0.8 mg/mL Lysozyme, 3 U/μL RQ1 DNase (Promega Cat. No. M610A)) and incubated for 60 min at room temperature. The E. coli lysate containing caspase-3 was prepared from KRX cells overexpressing recombinant caspase-3. Briefly, KRX cells were transformed with pTS1k:caspase-3(T/S). A starter culture (50 mL, LB Broth) was inoculated from a single colony and grown for 17-22 hrs at 37° C. with shaking (275 rpm). The starter culture was diluted (1:50) into fresh media and growth was continued for an additional 3 hrs. The incubation temperature was then lowered to 25° C. and, after 15 min, expression of caspase-3 was initiated by addition of rhamnose (0.2% final concentration). After 2 hr, cells were collected by centrifugation, re-suspended in 50 mL C(3) Lysis Buffer and incubated at ambient temperature (i.e. 22-24° C.) for 10 min. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation (20,000×g for 20 min at 4° C.) and used as the Caspase-3 source.

Cleavage of CBS-HT by Caspase-3 was detected in two different ways: by SDS-PAGE analysis and luminescence detection. For SDS-PAGE analysis, cleavage reaction samples were first labeled with the fluorescent marker CA-TAM (chloro alkane-TAMRA ligand (Promega Cat. No. G825A). 20 μl of the sample was added to 20 μL CA-TAM (diluted 1:100 in buffer (1×PBS, 0.05% IGEPAL)) and incubated for 30 min at room temperature. To this sample, 40 μL SDS-PAGE Loading Buffer (120 mM Tris Buffer (pH7.4), 1% SDS, 25.2% Glycerol, 1.5 mM Bromophenol Blue, 100 mM DTT) was added. The resulting solution was incubated at 65° C. for 30 mM. 10 μL was loaded onto an SDS-PAGE gel. As a control, 0.60, 0.15 and 0.03 mg/mL HT:GST (HaloTag®-GST (Promega Cat. No. G449A) fusion was also loaded onto the gel (FIG. 17). After electrophoresis, CA-TAM labeled species were detected by fluorescent imaging (ex:532, Em:580; FIG. 17). For detection via luminescence, 40 μL of the cleavage reaction samples were added to 60 μL buffer (50 mM HEPES (pH 7.5) and 100 μL Bright-Glo assay reagent. Luminescence was detected as previously described (Table 7).

TABLE 7 WG (HY) MIN BASAL INDUCED RESPONSE 5 10,494 4,626,173 441

Example XII Immobilization of CBS

To demonstrate that the protease biosensor of the present invention when expressed in a cell-free environment maintains activity when immobilized on a solid support, the CBS-HT fusion expressed in wheat germ extract (Example XI) was immobilized to a solid support (resin and plate) and used to detect Caspase-3.

For immobilization to a resin (FIG. 18A), HaloLink resin (25% slurry, Promega Cat. No. G1912) was first equilibrated with HTPB Buffer (50 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT and 0.5 mM EDTA). Resin from one volume of slurry was collected by centrifugation (5 min at 1000×g), and the storage buffer was removed. The resin pellet was re-suspended in 2 volumes of HTPB and mixed. This process was repeated for a total of three HTPB washes. 100 μL of the CBS-HT fusion from Example XI (cell free expression reaction) was mixed with 25 μL washed resin (50% slurry in HTPB) and incubated overnight with mixing at 4° C. Incubation was continued at ambient temperature for 2 hrs. After incubation, the resin was washed to remove un-bound CBS. The resin was split into two 50 μl aliquots, and each aliquot was washed 3 times with HTPB. The final resin pellets were re-suspended in 50 μL HTPB.

For the CBS caspase-3 cleavage reaction, 20 μl of the washed resin was mixed with 20 μL of either E. coli lysate containing caspase-3 or C(3) Lysis Buffer (as in Example XI) and incubated for 30 min at ambient temperature. 60 μl HEPES pH 7.5 was added to the samples, followed by the addition of 100 μl Bright-Glo Assay Reagent. Luminescence was detected as previously described (Table 8 and FIG. 19).

TABLE 8 BASAL INDUCED RESPONSE BLANK 10 70 7 AS 29,553 5,162,108 175 FT 3,170 232,117 73 RESIN 11,219 1,635,259 146

For immobilization to a plate (FIG. 18B), a microtiter plate was prepared containing HaloTag® ligand for immobilizing the CBS-HT fusion protein. Briefly, bicarbonate buffer pH 8.5 (100 μL), containing amine-PEG 2000-Cl alkane HaloTag® ligand (0.25 mM (final concentration; PBI 3961 and methoxy-PEG-NH₂ (0.75 mM final concentration) were added to wells of a NHS microtiter plate and incubated for 1 hr at room temperature. The wells were then washed 3 times with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20. After washing, 50 mM ethanolamine was added, and the plates were incubated for 30 min at room temperature and washed again 3 times with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20. The plate was then stored at 4° C. with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20 in each well. For the assay, the wells were washed 3 times with 200 μl HPTB. 50 μl CBS-HT cell-free expression reaction (Example XI) was added to the wells, and incubated overnight at 4° C. Following incubation, the plate was washed 3 times with 200 μl PBSI (1×PBS with 0.05% IGEPAL). 100 μL E. coli lysate containing caspase-3 or C(3) lysis buffer (described above) were added and the plate was incubated for 60 min with mixing at room temperature. The wells were then washed with 100 μl PBSI. 100 μL HEPES pH 7.5 and 100 μl Bright-Glo Assay Reagent were added and luminescence was detected as previously described (Table 9).

TABLE 9 MIN BASAL INDUCED RESPONSE 0 66 1,226 19 1 16 1,636 102 2 106 2,267 21 3 66 2,147 33 4 126 2,297 18 5 126 2,857 23 6 76 3,107 41 7 56 3,377 60 8 136 3,037 22 9 116 3,667 32

Example XIII CBS Expression in E. coli

To demonstrate that the protease biosensor of the present invention can be expressed and function in E. coli, the CBS variant 1A5 was expressed in E. coli and used to detect Caspase-3.

The CBS variant 1A5 was cloned into a bacterial expression vector (pFNA:HQ(5×):CBS:HT(7); SEQ ID NOs:73 and 74) containing HaloTag® (C-terminal to the CBS) and a 5×HQ tag (N-terminal to CBS). The fusion protein was expressed in E. coli as follows: E. coli (KRX) was transformed with the vector. A starter culture (50 mL, LB Broth) was inoculated from a single colony and grown for 17-22 hrs at 37° C. with shaking (275 rpm). The starter culture was diluted (1:50) into induction media (500 mL, LB Broth with 0.05% glucose and 0.02% rhamnose) and growth was continued for another 17-22 hrs at 25° C. with shaking (275 rpm). The culture was divided into two 250 mL aliquots, and cells were collected by centrifugation (5,000×g for 20 min at 4° C.). One cell pellet was re-suspended in Lysis Buffer (25 mL, 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 0.2× FastBreak, 2 mM DTT, 0.05% CHAPS, 50 mM Arginine, 50 mM Glutamic acid, 0.2 mg/mL Lysozyme, 10 U/mL RQ1 DNase, and Protease Inhibitors (Beckton/Dickenson Cat. No. 544779)) and incubated on ice for 30 min. After incubation, the sample was sonicated (Misonix Sonicator-3000, 4 min total, 5 sec on, 5 sec rest, Power Setting 5). The crude lysate was clarified by centrifugation (20,000×g for 20 min at 4° C.), and the supernatant (cleared lysate) was used as the CBS source. For the caspase-3 cleavage reaction, 20 μl of the cleared lysate was mixed with 20 μL E. coli lysate expressing caspase-3 (Example XII) and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. 60 μL HEPES pH 7.5 was added, followed by the addition of 100 μL Bright-Glo Assay Reagent. Luminescence was detected as previously described above (FIG. 20).

Example XIV Purification of CBS from E. coli

To demonstrate the ability to purify a functional protease biosensor of the present invention from E. coli, the CBS expressed in Example XIII was purified using HisLink (Promega Cat. No. V8821)) column chromatography according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, 25 mL of cleared lysate was made 0.5 M in NaCl (final concentration) and applied to 2 mL of settled HisLink resin that had been equilibrated with Binding Buffer (100 mM HEPES (pH7.5), 10 mM Imidazole, 500 mM NaCl). The resin was washed with 12 mL of Binding Buffer followed by washing with Elution Buffer (100 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 1000 mM Imidazole). 1.75 mL fractions were collected.

For SDS-PAGE gel analysis, samples were labeled with CA-TAM and analyzed as described previously (FIG. 21A). For caspase-3 cleavage reaction, 20 μl of each sample was mixed with 20 μL E. coli lysate expressing Caspase-3 (Example XII) and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. 60 μL HEPES pH 7.5 was added, followed by the addition of 100 μL Bright-Glo Assay Reagent. Luminescence was detected as previously described above (Table 10 and FIG. 21B).

TABLE 10 HSS NSM WASH E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 BASAL 301,304 176,259 7,734 4,221 193,268 18,454 1,130 270 INDUCED 12,875,742 5,822,003 3,706,541 2,951,899 40,913,496 3,287,059 215,580 48,068 RESPONSE 43 33 479 699 212 178 191 178

Example XV Immobilization of E. coli Expressed CBS

To demonstrate that the protease biosensor expressed in E. coli can be immobilized to a solid support while maintaining the ability to detect protease, purified HQ:CBS:HT (5×HQ tag:CBS:HaloTag) was immobilized on HaloLink resin and HaloLink plates and assayed for activation by Caspase-3. For immobilization on HaloLink resin, 100 μL of purified HQ:CBS:HT was added to 30 μL of settled HaloLink resin (pre-equilibrated with HTPB as described previously) and incubated for 2 hrs at ambient temperature. The resin was washed 3 times with 300 μL HTPB, and the final resin pellet was re-suspended in 300 μL HTPB. 50 μL washed resin was added to 50 μL E. coli Lysate containing Caspase-3 or 50 μL C(3) Lysis Buffer and incubated for 30 min at ambient temperature. 100 μL of Bright-Glo Assay Reagent was added and luminescence was detected as previously described (Table 11 and FIG. 22).

For immobilization on HaloLink plates, 100 μL of purified HQ:CBS:HT was added to a microtiter plate containing immobilized HaloTag® ligand (Example XII). The plate was incubated at room temperature with mixing for 2 hrs. The plate was then washed 3 times in 1×PBSI (1×PBS with 0.05% IGEPAL) and incubated with 100 μL of E. coli Lysate containing Caspase-3 (prepared as described previously) for 30 min at room temperature. 100 μL Bright-Glo Assay Reagent was added, and luminescence detected as previously described (Table 11 and FIG. 22).

TABLE 11 HisLink HaloLink-Plate BASAL 193,268 6,880 INDUCED 40,913,496 661,597 RESPONSE 212 96

All publications, patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference. While in the foregoing specification, this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details herein may be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor with enhanced response to a target molecule. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting the presence or activity of a target molecule in a sample comprising: a) contacting the sample with i) a polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker linking the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase modified relative to a parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase, the linker comprising a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to at least one of: A) the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule, or B) the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule; and ii) a substrate for the modified thermostable luciferase; and b) detecting luminescence in the sample.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase comprises a substitution at an amino acid corresponding to position 507, 503, 471 or 193 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a combination thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase comprises a substitution of at least one amino acid corresponding to positions 5, 17, 21, 23, 26, 39, 44, 51, 81, 101, 103, 110, 114, 115, 119, 123, 126, 128, 133, 137, 186, 191, 192, 193, 196, 208, 211, 214, 226, 228, 230, 233, 264, 273, 275, 286, 287, 294, 295, 297, 302, 303, 304, 306, 308, 309, 313, 324, 329, 331, 343, 348, 353, 364, 374, 385, 389, 409, 420, 426, 427, 428, 431, 449, 456, 460, 461, 465, 466, 468, 471, 473, 482, 484, 485, 489, 493, 494, 497, 503, 507, 509, 510, 513, 516, 517, 521, 522, 523, 526, 530, 533, 536, 537, 542, or 543 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or combination thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostable luciferase is circularly-permuted in a region corresponding to residues 2 to 12, residues 32 to 53, residues 70 to 88, residues 102 to 126, residues 139 to 165, residues 183 to 203, residues 220 to 247, residues 262 to 273, residues 303 to 313, residues 353 to 408, residues 485 to 495, or residues 535 to 546 of a firefly luciferase.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor region comprises a protease recognition site, a kinase recognition site, an antibody binding site, a metal binding site, an ion binding site, a cyclic nucleotide binding site or a nucleotide binding site.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor region comprises a protease recognition site.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the protease recognition site is selected from the group consisting of a caspase-3 recognition site, a caspase-8 recognition site, an enterokinase recognition site, a prostate serum antigen recognition site, a SARS viral protease recognition site, a TEV protease recognition site, a Granzyme B recognition site, a MMP recognition site, and a rhinovirus protease recognition site.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostable luciferase is modified from a wild-type luciferase from a species selected from the group consisting of Luciola cruciata, Luciola lateralis, Pyrocoelia miyako, Lampyris noctiluca, Photuris pennsylvanica, Phengodes sp., Luciola mingrelica, and Photinus pyralis.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostable luciferase is a firefly luciferase.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermostable luciferase has at least 95% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO:2.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermostable luciferase has at least 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO:4.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the thermostable luciferase has at least 95% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO:4.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the linker comprises the sensor region DEVD.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the linker is SSDEVDGSSG (SEQ ID NO:52), SSGSDEVDGSLSSG (SEQ ID NO:53), SDEVDGSL (SEQ ID NO:54), or DEVDG (SEQ ID NO: 55).
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the target molecule is a protease.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the protease is Caspase 3, Caspase 8, TEV protease or MMP-2.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a test compound to the sample wherein the test compound may alter the activity of the target molecule.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises a cell, an animal, cell lysate or an in vitro transcription/translation mixture.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein luminescence is detected by in vivo imaging.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is expressed in cells.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the cells expressing the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor are injected or implanted into an animal.
 22. A method to detect the presence or activity of a target molecule in an animal, comprising: a) contacting an animal with i) a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for the target molecule; and ii) a substrate for the modified thermostable luciferase b) detecting luminescence in the animal.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is expressed in cells.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the cells are injected or implanted into the animal.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the substrate for luciferase is injected into the animal.
 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a test compound to the animal wherein the test compound alters the activity of the target molecule.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein luminescence is detected by imaging.
 28. A method to detect apoptosis in a sample, comprising: a) contacting the sample with i) a polynucleotide encoding a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor comprising a sensor region for a molecule involved in apoptosis; and ii) a substrate for the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase; and b) detecting luminescence in the sample.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the sample is a cell, an animal, cell lysate, or an in vitro transcription/translation mixture.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the molecule is a protease.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the protease is Caspase 3 or Caspase
 8. 32. The method of claim 28, further comprising adding a test compound to the sample wherein the test compound may alter the activity of the molecule.
 33. The method of claim 28, wherein luminescence is detected by in vivo imaging.
 34. The method of claim 28, wherein the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor is expressed in cells.
 35. The method of claim 28, wherein the cells expressing the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase biosensor are injected or implanted into an animal. 